Pastor's Bible Study

Jesus is better than the angels not only because of His deity but also because of His humanity. His humanity enabled Him to regain man's lost dominion, to redeem lost mankind, to disarm Satan and deliver us from death, and it enables Him to be a sympathetic High Priest to His people.

Hebrews 2:1–4 is a loving warning and a hopeful invitation. It calls believers to anchor themselves firmly in the great salvation offered in Christ. The passage reminds us that the gospel is both a gift to treasure and a truth to guard. By paying close attention to what we have heard, we persevere in faith and experience the fullness of God’s redemptive work.

Jesus is better than the angels. He is superior in identity: Son of God, eternal, divine. He is superior in role: worshiped, mediator of salvation, ruler over angels. He is superior in authority: eternal throne, creator of all, sustainer of life. The author's message for Jewish believers tempted to revert to old practices,  place undue emphasis on angels, or return to Judaism is: look to Christ, not the servants. Trust the Son, not the intermediaries. Worship the eternal Savior, not His messengers

Jesus is better than the prophets. Though the words of the prophets were worthy of obedience, not a single prophet was worthy of worship. But Jesus is. He doesn’t just give out partial revelation through snippets, messages, etc. He is the full revelation of God. The final and complete message. He brings a better message. He is a better messenger. 

The word "better" is used 13 times in Hebrews. The book is a series of contrast between the good things of Judaism and the better things of Christ. Jesus is better in every way. He is better than the prophets as a messenger. He is better than the angels in His deity and humanity. He is better than Moses as a deliverer. He is better than Joshua as a conqueror. He better than Aaron as a high priest. He is a better sacrifice than bulls and goats. He establishes a better covenant. He ministers from a better sanctuary. And our relationship with Him operates by a better principle - faith.

The Feast of Tabernacles is a feast the looks back with joy and remembers how God graciously and miraculously provided for the Jews in the wilderness. So when they come to celebrate it in Jerusalem, the make little temporary shelters (booths) to live in for 7 days. The feast celebrated the fall harvest and the forgiveness of sin. But it also prophesies to the future millennial kingdom of Jesus.

The Day of Atonement in terms of a picture was fulfilled by Christ in His death on the cross. The Day of Atonement in terms of prophetic calendar may very well be fulfilled to the day in the time period following the tribulation and leading to the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom.

This feast is memorial of the blowing of trumpets. Trumpets were blown primarily to gather people for a journey, judgment, or battle. When we think about the fall feast pertaining the second advent the way the spring feast pertain to the first advent, then we can surmise that the tribulation could very possibly begin one year on the very day that celebrates the Feast of Trumpets - the 1st day of Tishrie (on the Jewish calendar).

Jesus fulfilled Passover to the in that He is our Passover Lamb that was sacrificed for us on the Passover. He fulfilled the Feast of Unleavened bread in that His holy body saw now decay or corruption. He fulfilled the Feast of Firstfruits in that he was raised from the dead on the very day of the feast. He is the firstfruits of those who will come forth from the grave. And on the day of Pentecost (first day of the Feast of Pentecost), the Holy Spirit descended and baptized the church. He permanently indwells believers. He brought believers into union with Jesus and one another.

The Passover Feast had two purposes: 1) it was to remember deliverance and redemption from Egyptian bondage, and 2) it was to look forward to the coming Messiah who would bring true redemption. Jesus fulfilled the Passover in that He is our true Passover lamb. By faith we apply His shed blood to our lives and God's judgment passes over us. Jesus transformed the Passover Meal into what is known as the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper looks back in remembrance to our redemption from the slavery of sin and death.